The lady in the photo is Judy Stevenson. She was due to do The Caldey Swim this year – she completed last year’s.

She is South African, her husband is from Manorbier, five miles down the road from here. He lives in Hong Kong, where he works; she oscillates between Hong Kong and their home in S Africa, where their kids are in school.

At least once a year, they holiday in Tenby, where they have a flat (Croft Court).

Has anyone travelled further to take part in our swim?

Judy is a long distance swimmer, albeit most of the distance is travelling to the swim.

With great regret, we have had to cancel today’s swim. The forecast indicates WSW and W winds of up to 21mph with gale force gusts up to 30mph. If the swim was in a north easterly direction it might have been helpful, albeit in a ‘lumpy’ sea. The swim, however, has to cross the rip between Caldey Island and the headland near Giltar Point, in a north westerly direction, and in such weather conditions we consider the swim to be unsafe; it is also unsafe for the flotilla of support kayaks.

We understand many have made huge efforts in preparation of, and travelling to, this event; however, safety must always be paramount in all our decisions. So disappointment all round and, of course, frustration that all our efforts this year have been in vain. All we can suggest is you park the event for a year.

With great regret, we have had to postpone today’s swim. After yesterday’s storm, the sea swell is making for difficult conditions. And even though the forecast indicates improvements until 1pm, the swell combined with gusts of between 13 and 15 mph thereafter give us cause for concern for all swimmers’ safety.

We understand many have made huge efforts in preparation of, and travelling to, this event; however, safety must always be paramount in all our decisions. So disappointment all round.

Consolation, if available to you, will be the deferred date of the 26th August, with a start time of midday, ie 45 minutes earlier. If you can’t make the new date, please email us for your refund.

On August 12th, leaving from Caldey’s Priory Beach at 12.45, this year’s swim is almost upon us.

The swim is now fully subscribed and has a waiting list. Many thanks for the support from our sponsors. This year’s beneficiaries are Tenby Lifeboat and Tenby Surflink. And there are still places available on the spectators’ boat – phone Val Coates Rees on 07 473 178 701 to book spaces.

Fingers crossed for a temperate day and flat seas. If you’d like to watch the swimmers coming home, Castle Hill offers a great vantage point. The swimmers are likely to finish the 2.5 mile open sea course from about 13.25 onwards. They would certainly appreciate your support ….

Gearing up for this year’s event, the fifth under the organisation of Tenby Sea Swimming Association, the hope is that this stunning weather stays with us through the Summer. However, from the swimmers’ perspective, calm waters and minimal wind are more significant than sunshine.

Noticeably more people are swimming in the sea as the heatwave continues; perhaps that will provide for an increase in endurance swimming, thus future event entrants. Certainly there are more sea swimming events than before, with Tenby hosting the Long Course Weekend’s Wales Swim, Wales Ironman and, the latest off the block, Tenfoot Swim (from Tenby to Saundersfoot). But there is only one Caldey Swim, truly open sea swimming, crossing the straits between Caldey Island and the mainland, finishing at Tenby harbour. There is only one swim requiring ferries out to the start, on Caldey’s Priory Beach.

As we draw nearer this year’s swim, we hope your training is on schedule and your swimming as enjoyable as you’d like. We, meanwhile, look forward to welcoming you on 12th August. Oh, and by the way, we still have a few places left ….

The swim will start at 12.45 from Priory Beach, Caldey, so swimmers’ boats will leave at 11.45. Registration on the day from 09.30. Online entry applications NOW available here: www.Tenby-Caldey-Swim.co.uk/SWIMMERS.